Indigenous political culture and Eurasian empire: Russia in Siberia in seventeenth century

The dissertation "Indigenous Political Culture and Eurasian Empire: Russia in Siberia in the Seventeenth Century" is a study of the relationship between aboriginal Siberians and the Russian government from 1581 to 1701. The aim of this intervention is to provide an analysis of the early modern colonial history of indigenous Siberia to an Anglophone audience and contribute a hitherto unexplored case study to the growing literature on early modern European colonialism. Based on archival colonial records, the thesis addresses the indigenous experience of Russian incursion as a counterpoint to the standard focus on the Russian administration in traditional histories of Siberia. It identifies broad patterns in indigenous political relations and investigates how the Muscovites managed to insert themselves into the pre-existing political world of Siberia. Drawing on the disparate historiographies of the pre-modern Mongolian empire and modern colonial indigenous relations in North America, the dissertation traces continuities in Muscovite rule, but also highlights the ways in which aboriginal populations relied on their own political understandings to contest Russian dominance. It argues that Muscovites and indigenous Siberians emerged from a shared political world. The study traces the historical links between Siberia and Inner Asia in order to demonstrate that Mongolian tribute practices were widespread in Siberia. It provides a systematic analysis of the pre-contact Siberian tributary hierarchy and its impact on Russia's ability to subjugate local Siberian groups. It examines the phenomenon of multiple tribute payments and the impact of competition on Muscovy's fur revenues and indigenous political autonomy. It explores competing Russian and indigenous perceptions of subjugation. The distinction between subjugation and alliance is difficult to identify in the Eurasian tribute system. The dissertation argues that any conflicting interpretations arose not from cultural differences, but from the inherent ambiguities embedded in the practices of oath giving and gift exchange. The thesis then turns to the discontinuities in the Russian tribute system which emphasized financial profit. Despite Russian fluency in Siberian political culture, Moscow was willing to challenge native expectations to protect its fur revenues. The study also sheds light on the experiences of non-elite indigenous interpreters in Russian service.